Trunk-fastener.



1. w. ESPENL AUB.

TRUNK FASTENER- APPLICATION FILED FEB- 24, I916.

1,21%A89. Patented Jan. 30,1917. 5.1.

ml Noll!!! P271)?! 00.. "1010411100.. lusnmarm -vi c JOHN W. ESPENLAUB, 0F EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNQR OF T'WO-THIBDS TO CHARLES H. ESIPENLAUB AND HENRY R. HUGE.

TEUNK-FASTENEE.

arness.

Application filed February 24, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. ESPENLAUB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evansville, county of Vanderburg, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in T rank-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trunk fasteners.

My object is to provide a simple trunk fastener of novel construction which will provide for a secure locking of the fasteners or hasps with adaptability'for quick and easy unlocking thereof and an improved arrangement of the lock, the hasps or fas toners and the locking head, adapting them to be readily disposed inside of the trunk out of the way so that they cannot be damaged.

My invention relates to that class of trunk fasteners which employ a sliding locking bar, controlled by a lock, and combined with fasteners or hasps, and it has for its particular object the provision of an improved locking head, or a plurality of them if two or more of the fasteners or hasps are employed. In addition thereto, the hasps or fasteners are of improved construction adapting them to cooperate with the locking heads in a novel manner and so that if the trunk is not closed tightly and the locking device manipulated, the parts will be drawn together and as secure a locking effected, as would be the case if the trunk were first tightly closed.

One embodiment of the invention is set forth fully hereinafter and the novel features are recited in the appended claims. but as the invention is susceptible of modification, I do not limit myself to the details of construction disclosed, except where so stated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view lookin toward the inside of the front part of the trunk, showing the parts in locked position, dotted lines representing the unlocked position of the arm of the lock; Fig. 2, a detail edge view of the locking head and parts of the locking bars; Fig. 3, a detail face view of one of the fasteners or hasps; Fig. l, an edge view thereof; and Fig. 5, a cross section on the line 5-5, Fig. 3.

The body of the trunk is shown at 1 and the lid at 2. In Fig. 1, th locking devices are shown on the inside of the bottom and Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented J an. 30,- 1 .917.

Serial No. 80,156.

lid, the lock 3 bein the only part which is exposed on the front of the trunk. This lock may be of any suitable form adapted, on operation with a key, to turn a shaft at which carries an arm 5. Guide straps or loops 6 on the inside of thevbody 1 sustain and guide the links 7 and 8, the latter being pivoted at 9 to the arm 5. The locking block 10 has its ends connected at 11 and 12 to the links 7 and S. A corresponding looking block 13 is connected by a pin 1% to the linl; 7 and has extension 15 which moves in one of the guides 6. The hasps or fasteners l6 and 1'? with which the respective locking blocks 10 and 18 are adapted to cooperate, are secured to the inside of the lid or cover 2 and are of the form shown in detail in Figs. 3. d and 5.

Referring first to Fig. 2, each locking block is provided in its face with a deep cut away portion 18 which, when opposite the fastener, 16 or 17, oflers no obstruction to the opening of the lid 2. Each locking block also has in its face a more shallow cut away portion 19 which when opposite the fastener, 16 or 17, engages with the shoulder 20 on said fastener, Fl 3, thus securing the fastener against release. The lug or raised portion 21 on the face of the fastener which has the shoulder 20, extends laterally outwardly from theface of the fastener to such a distance that, while it will pass freely through the cut-away portion 18 when the fastener is moved across the face of the block, will not pass through the cut-away portion 19, and consequently, the shoulder 20 will engage the lower face of the locking head 10.

One of the margins 22 of the cut-away portion 18 is beveled so as-to facilitate free passage of the lug 21 therethrough.

The lug 21 is provided with a beveled edge 23 adapted, if the lid 2 is not closed tightly and the lock 3 is turned. to cause initial engagement of the point 24 with the beveled member 22 of the head 10 and thereafter. by a cam action, draw down the fastener 16 until the lower face of the locking head 10 finally bears against the shoulder 20.

When the cut-away portion 18 is opposite the lug 21. there is no interference with the free passage of the lug 21 and fastener 16 so that the lid can be readily opened. If the lock 3 be turned to bring the parts in the position shown in Fi 1, the cut-away portion 19 is then disposed in line with the lug 21 and the shoulder 20 locks against the lower face of the head 10, but should the lid 2 be only partly closed prior to locking of the trunk, the inclined shoulder 23, by cooperating with the shoulder 22, will draw down the lid and cause locking. Locking and unlocking is accomplished by the movement of the locking blocks across the faces of the-hasps or fasteners, as distinguished from those earlier constructions wherein the hasp or looking bar or member engage at their edges.

iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure Letters Patent, is

1. In a trunk fastener, the combination with a fastener member having a locking face, of a locking head movable crosswise over the face of the fastening member adapted to engage or release said fastener member which is provided with two recessed or cutout portions in its face, one of which is of a size adapting the fastener for free passage crosswise therethrough and the other being adapted to prevent passage of the fastener and to insure engagement of the fastener and locking head.

2. In a trunk fastener, the combination with a fastener member provided with an outstanding locking lug on its face and adapted to be carried by one part of a trunk,

of a locking member adapted to be carried by another part of the trunk, said locking member having a recessed or cut-away portion in its face adapted to permit free pas sage of the fastener member therethrough crosswise thereof and provided with an inclined wall adapted to engage the fastener member to facilitate its passage through the recess aforesaid, said locking member when in another position, being adapted to engage the lug on the fastener member.

3. In a trunk fastener, the combination with a fastener member having on its face an outstanding locking lug provided with a locking shoulder and with an inclined shoulder, of a locking member adapted to -be shifted in a general crosswise relationship to the fastener member to lock or release the latter, said locking member having a recess in its face adapted to permit free passage of the fastener member therethrongh crosswise thereof and provided with a shoulder adapted to engage the inclined shoulder on the fastener member for the purpose of exerting a drawing action on the fastener member if the latter is not in proper position for looking, said locking member being adapted to engage the locking shoulder on the fastener member.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOHN W. ESPENLAUB.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

